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Dog Training Education Month

February 1, 2018

Did you know that February is Dog Training Education Month? Making sure that your canine companion knows and obeys basic commands is very important! If your pup hasn’t finished his education, we strongly recommend seeing to this right away. Read on as a Las Vegas, NV vet discusses training your dog.

Basics

Even if you don’t mind your furry buddy having a few bad habits, it’s still important to teach him basic obedience. Commands like Sit, Stay, Come, Heel, and Lay Down are very important for both your pet’s safety and the safety of others. Start with these five basics, and make sure Fido has all of these down before you move on to more complex commands.

Class Schedule

Dogs have fairly short attention spans, so you don’t want to bore your furry pupil with long, drawn-out classes. It’s better to spend a few minutes a day working with Fido than to do a two-hour weekend class.

Classroom

Choose a spot that is quiet and free of distractions. Fido will have a hard time concentrating if there is a cat in the classroom!

Treats

When training your dog, it’s very important to focus on positive reinforcement. Avoid methods that use negative reinforcement, such as shock collars. Dogs don’t really understand punishment, so Fido may not understand that he did something wrong. Instead, reward your pooch with treats and praise for making progress. We recommend using small snacks, like kibble or pieces of hot dogs.

Patience

Patience is really a key part of any good dog-training regimen. Don’t expect Fido to pick things up immediately. Give him time to learn at his own pace.

Consistency

Always be consistent with your pooch. When teaching your canine buddy vocal commands, be sure to use the same phrasing every time. Don’t say ‘Come’ one day and then ‘Fido, come here right now!’ the next.

Advanced Training

Once your dog has learned the basic commands, there’s no reason you can’t keep up with his education. Some of our canine pals really enjoy learning new things! Some other useful commands are Leave it and Wait. Of course, you can also teach Fido some cute tricks, like Shake or Roll Over. These classics will always be adorable!

Please do not hesitate to contact us, your Las Vegas, NV vet hospital, for all of your dog’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!